MELBOURNE, July 24 (Xinhua) -- Real Madrid overcame wet conditions and an injury-depleted Manchester City on Friday to secure its first trophy of the preseason, winning the International Champions Cup in Melbourne.
An Australian record soccer crowd of 99,382 packed the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) to witness Spanish giants to inflict a 4-1 defeat on the Citizens, with most of the damage being done in an entertaining first half.
Star strikers Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema scored their first goals under manager Rafael Benitez, while Pepe and Denis Cherychev were the beneficiaries of two stunning Isco crosses for Real.
Manchester City's consolation came in the form of a controversial penalty against Sergio Ramos for handball, which was duly put away by acting City captain and stalwart Yaya Toure.
In stark contrast to Real's first hit-out in Australia, the tempo was set early by City attackers Samir Nasri and new signing Raheem Sterling, who looked lively early. Sterling, to a chorus of boos around the MCG, was able to put pressure on the Madrid defense through his dangerous dashing through the forward half.
Fans of both teams had to hold their breath after just ten minutes however; a huge scare came when a dangerous foray from City resulted in Toure going down.
He was on the wrong end of an errant but accidental elbow to the head from Madrid goalkeeper Keilor Navas. Both players were down for some time before Toure was deemed fit to return.
The night got dirtier for City; in the 18th minute, new signing Fabian Delph was stretchered off with a hamstring injury, and it proved to be the turning point as Madrid piled on two goals in the ten minutes following.
City's defense looked shaky trying to fill the holes left by Delph and regular starters Vincent Kompany and Eliaquim Mangala who did not take place in the game, and Madrid was able to take full advantage.
In the 20th minute, Dani Carvajal was able to turn his man on the wing before lacing a through-ball to Gareth Bale. His low cross whipped in behind striker Karim Benzema who, off a step, steadied himself - blasting a stunning volley past City's Joe Hart.
Ronaldo joined the party just four minutes later. The beneficiary of a perfectly placed lobbed ball from Toni Kroos, the champion trapped it with his first touch before poking it at Hart who managed to get a hand on the ball before its momentum carried it over the line.
Finishing with his trademark celebration, the Portuguese international thrilled the record crowd, later dummying Joe Hart from six yards, flicking it over the keeper's head, but just out for a goal kick.
City's best chance in the early stages came thanks to Toure, who managed to force his way past through two defenders and enter the box, only to be stopped willingly by Marcelo as he attempted to get a shot away.
Aside from that rare push forward, it was all Madrid until the last minute of the half. Isco swung in a beautiful cross to an unmarked Pepe in the 44th minute, the veteran heading the ball past a flat-footed Hart, before a late consolation penalty was awarded to City's Raheem Sterling in injury time.
It was marred by controversy however; the replay showed Sterling clearly getting a hand to the ball before he chested into Sergio Ramos' hand. The decision stood and Toure converted into the bottom right corner.
Both teams put the cue in the rack in the second half. A shining light for City was Nasri providing typically-industrious run through the wings. His team had the opportunity to make the game interesting when he lobbed one to David Silva; the Spaniard took the ball inside the box but attempted to throw Navas twice when he should have attempted a clean shot.
Madrid made them pay not long after. Isco provided a second stunning cross, this time to Cherychev who duly placed an easy finish into the back of the net.
City manager Manuel Pellegrini said after the match he was not surprised that Madrid was able to exploit the holes in City's back half.
"We knew before the game it would be difficult... We are missing three center backs," he told the press.
"Mangala was sick this morning so he could not play and Kompany is becoming a father again so he is not here."
He said the loss of Fabian Delph early only exacerbated the lack of depth.
"Unfortunately Fabian hurt his hamstring. We thought it would be useful for him to play 45 minutes. But unfortunately that didn' t happen," Pellegrini said.
"We will see how he is tomorrow."
Real Madrid boss Rafael Benitez was full of praise for his team 's effort, particularly in the early-season competitions.
"I'm really pleased to see the team play well and win the trophy. You can see the commitment in the training sessions. It's a positive thing for the future," he said post-match.
He said his team was now looking forward to the challenge presented by two big Italian teams when Real tours China next week, but noted there was always room for improvement.
"We will be ready (to play in China), I think it will be hotter. We have to try to do our best," he said.
"(But) We conceded a goal, so we can improve that. We have seen things here though. The main thing would be to keep the balance. We need to continue the same way, but our attack is stronger than our defense."
Manchester City concludes its preseason tour in Vietnam next week while, on Sunday, Real Madrid heads to China for the first time in four years, where their first match against Inter Milan is scheduled for July 27.
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